Who Was Andrew Carnegie And What Made Him Inspirational?
Born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835, Andrew Carnegie was the son of a hand loom weaver. In 1848, his family decided to move to the United States, settling in Pittsburgh, in search of better opportunities.
At the age of 13, Carnegie began working as a bobbin boy, earning $1.20 per week in a cotton factory. Despite the grueling work, he remained steadfast in his determination to succeed. In his autobiography, he wrote, “My hopes were high, and I looked every day for some change to take place. What it was to be I knew not, but that it would come I felt certain if I kept on.”
One day, an opportunity presented itself when his employer needed help with the company accounts. Carnegie had good writing and numerical skills, and he began to assist with the accounts. He even enrolled in night school to learn double entry bookkeeping.
Career Progression
Soon, a family friend of his uncle asked if he knew anyone who could work as a messenger at the telegraph office. Carnegie was put forward for the position, and despite being young, small, and unfamiliar with the area, he seized the opportunity. “It is a great mistake not to seize the opportunity,” he said.
During this time, one of the wealthy clients he worked for opened up his personal library of books for boys to borrow and read once a week. Carnegie took full advantage of this, carrying his book with him at all times and reading during his breaks. This love for books would later inspire him to become a great philanthropist.
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